The Micah Mandate

Ever since he burst onto the national stage in the 70s, I have felt that Anwar’s agenda was not “Malaysian”, but “Malay” and “muslim”. This was not in any way predicated on any detailed knowledge, but impressions garnered from newspapers. When Anwar shifted from an external pressure group (ABIM) to join UMNO, I felt that he was a man who was willing to be used because he believes he can use those who would use him.… Read the article

Many, many years ago I attended a course where the course leader took us through the Bible to show us that God is actually biased… towards the poor, that is. It was quite something to have my preconceived notions peeled away to read Scripture as it is actually written. Of course God is not unjust.… Read the article

It’s like a barn house dance, changing partners every few bars as the music merrily plays on. After PH’s historic win over BN, Zahid met with Dr Mahathir. And Najib called Anwar. At some point, it seems, PAS president Hadi and PPBB president Abang Johari also met Dr Mahathir. A few days ago Mustapa Mohamed, a senior UMNO leader, quit UMNO, followed by Anifah Aman.… Read the article

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on September 20, 2018. Attorney-General (AG) Tommy Thomas originally thought he would spend about an hour taking questions from The Edge Financial Daily (TEFD) and Malaysiakini last Thursday, when met for a joint interview in his office in Putrajaya. But the allotted hour soon stretched to an hour and 40 minutes as the AG revealed, in his first interview since his appointment in June, the “mind-boggling” number of lopsided contracts the previous government had committed to because “all the ministries were doing it”, his thoughts on Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s acquittal and the charges brought against prominent lawyer Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, and more.… Read the article

Following are excerpts of the interview, attended by Ho Kay Tat, Tan Choe Choe and S Kanagaraju from TEFD, touching on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), lopsided government contracts, legal reforms and decisions to withdraw charges against Pakatan Harapan politicians and supporters: Q: What’s your assessment of your first 100 days? A: The challenges have been much greater than what I had expected.… Read the article

By Sulok Tawie KUCHING, Sept 19 — A series of federal laws passed since 1965 should be repealed first in order to restore the rights of Sarawak and Sabah as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Sarawak-born Australian lawyer Robert Pei said today. He said in a statement the federal laws include the Constitution and Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act, 1965, (CMAA65), Continental Shelf Act 1966 (CSA66 lapsed in 2011) and the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA74).… Read the article

By Chandra Muzaffar In reflecting on the status of Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian federation during a Malaysia Day celebration at Padang Merdeka Kota Kinabalu on Sept 16, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad made some significant observations which should shape our understanding of how the two states relate to Putrajaya.… Read the article

THE recent announcement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is committed to returning Sabah and Sarawak their rightful status as equal partners in the federation can be seen in two ways. If this announcement made in the prime minister’s first address to Sabahans since the new government came to power is a sincere commitment and quickly implemented in the key areas of concern in which the two East Malaysian states have had their status and rights undermined and their legitimate needs neglected, then it can help open a more amicable, less contentious and more stable chapter in the nation’s history and development.… Read the article